A A Voronov

Passive Q-switching of the diode-pumped Er:YAG laser cavity with the Q-switch based on the Fe2+:ZnSe crystal

Repetitive-pulse generation of the diode-pumped Er:YAG laser (λ = 2.94 µm) in the free mode and in the mode of cavity passive Q-switching was achieved using a Q-switch based on the Fe2+:ZnSe crystal. When using pump pulses 3 ms long, the pulse-average output power of the Er:YAG laser in the free generation mode was 0.5W. In the passive Q-switching mode, giant pulses 180 ns long with an energy of 3 µJ were obtained.

A continuous-wave Fe{sup 2+}:ZnSe laser

A continuous-wave oscillation is obtained for the first time in a Fe{sup 2+}:ZnSe laser. The laser wavelength was in the range from 4.04 to 4.08 {mu}m. A liquid-nitrogen-cooled active element was pumped by a Cr{sup 2+}:CdSe laser at 2.97 {mu}m. The maximum output power of the laser was 160 mW with the 56% slope efficiency. The minimum absorbed pump power threshold was 18 mW. The intrinsic losses in the Fe{sup 2+}:ZnSe crystal did not exceed 0.024 cm{sup -1} during lasing. (lasers. amplifiers)

Efficient 3.8-4.4 μm tunable Fe:ZnSe laser

Efficient lasing of Fe:ZnSe was demonstrated with a 2.94 pm Er:YAG pump laser. Output energy of 130 mJ, an absorbed energy slope efficiency of 44% and continuous tunability from 3.8 to 4.4 pm at 85 K were obtained. Laser efficiencies were determined for temperatures ranging from 85 to 253 K.